Groups of Five: About the process

Sponsor a refugee

As of May 1, 2018, new forms and guides have come into effect, for the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program. These documents apply to all PSR streams including Sponsorship Agreement Holders, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors.

There is a 30-day grace period. After June 1, 2018, we will either return or refuse any applications not submitted on the new forms. We won’t return refused applications.

Information for privately sponsored refugees

Learn more about Canada and the next steps in the application process. (Available in 11 languages)

A Group of Five (G5) is five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee living abroad to come to Canada.

G5s may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state. The principal applicant MUST already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body has found that an individual meets its refugee definition. This authorized body can either be the UNHCR or the government of the country (i.e., foreign state) where the refugee is now living.

You must include the document proving recognized refugee status with the refugee sponsorship application you submit.